October 10, 2011

Hi {!firstname_fix}

We have been at Salisbury all weekend doing Euroranch. We arrived early and explored the market center built in 1340 and ate lunch at the Haunch of Venison. We visited the cathedral, marveled at the splendor of it all. And then, of course, had a delightful seminar time in the Marlborough Room. We had people from 8 different countries and learned about brain chemistry and the steps and play and joy. It was lovely and most energizing. I think we all had a spectacular time.

These classes will begin Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Using Radiant Resources (2 weeks) is a free orientation for those of you who are brand new and would like to find your way around town. Come sit on the top of our double-decker bus for a guided tour. And even if you are not brand new, this is a really fun class to reconnect with all the treats of the community.

Weight Loss and Clothing (2 weeks) will explore your relationship to clothes after you start changing your sense of your self. How you want to dress, what works, what doesn’t work. What about all the clothes in the closet that do not fit. Do you want them? Even if they fit now, are they what you want to wear? How can you have a sense of style? Come have fun and play with us in a journey of discovery.

Depression (2 weeks) is a key class for the Potatoes Not Prozac crowd. Learn in-depth information on the kinds of depression, why drugs will or will not work, how they work and how Doing the Food can help.

These classes will begin Wednesday, October 19, 2011. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Brain Chemistry: Beta Endorphin (2 weeks) is one of our most popular classes. It will teach you the core of the science behind the program. This is the outline for a critical part of sugar sensitivity, why you act the way you do and what you can do to change it. I love this class and so do all the people who have taken it. Somehow BE rocks!

Radiant Play (2 weeks) is based on the material that came out of our discussions about the amygdala in chat. I learned that play has a huge impact on our ability to handle emotional change, and to make sense of the world. It was mind boggling to me. We will be talking about the neurochemistry of play. Why it is especially important for ss people and why even more so for those of us who have committed to recovery.

This class is not about the psychology of play. It is about the the neurochemistry of it and why it is so crucial for us. And because we have been talking about play in chats, we will incorporate these ideas as well - what kind of play works for *you*...how can you nurture it?

So come take it for you, or if you are a parent or grandparent, for your children.

The class schedule is online. Click here to see what is planned.

A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum.

Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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** Quote From Kathleen **


Your molecules will yearn for balance, care, and healing. Instead of craving for sugar, there will come a longing for wholeness.

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


Imagine the scenario - you have just 60 seconds to tell someone about Potatoes not Prozac.

What do you say?

Here are some suggestions that Kathleen came up with.
  • Have you done everything and are still tired, cranky and moody?
  • Are you on antidepressants and hate the side effects?
  • Are you clean and sober but having a hard time with life?
  • Do you crave?
  • Did your doctor just tell you you are at risk for diabetes?
  • Have you heard of sugar sensitivity? Maybe it is your body not your mind making you crazy.
  • Sugar is a drug. Sugar addiction is real. It makes your life miserable.
  • Potatoes not Prozac HEALS the cause.
  • It's free, tailored to your body, YOU design your plan.
  • Results beyond your imagination. Change your food, change your life.
___________ Whew!

I think sometimes I forget the immensity of this program. It's so nice to be reminded of it once in a while.

And to think that it actually WORKS!!

Selena
selenas@blueyonder.co.uk

Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news.

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** How I Found Radiant Recovery **


Hi Everyone-

My name is Joan. I’m in Madison, WI. I read Potatoes Not Prozac in 1999. The chapter Brain Chemistry 101 was a huge epiphany for me and the answer to the mystery: How can one tiny Hershey’s Kiss destroy 6 weeks of sugar abstinence and set the whole thing in motion again?

Then, at the beginning of this year, I stumbled upon The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program. Since Jan. I’ve done all the unproductive things (all the steps at once, just the potato, thinking three breakfasts meant I’d conquered step one, weeks spent shopping for the perfect journal, numerous false starts journal-ing, giving up, starting over and giving up again, and again, and…). I say unproductive but for me, maybe this has all been part of the process. Anyway, I’ve come to the disheartening belief that I simply cannot do this alone. Also, that this program is the solution to the gigantic crazy angst that is my life.

So, I’m hoping to find out the best way to get the support I need to do the program. That will involve figuring out what form of support will actually help. The website has so many options; I thought I’d start with an orientation.

Looking forward to meeting the rest of you

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** Radiant Recovery® Store **


David manages the Radiant Recovery® Store. He is also Kathleen's oldest son.

We have had a lot of new people come into the program this month, so I thought it would be good to remind you of one of our best resources which presents the Theory and Practice of Radiant Recovery®



The Audio Learning Course Features


Disc One
An Introduction to Sugar Sensitivity

o Introduction o The Vision Quest
o Blood Sugar o The Process of the Steps
o Brain Chemistry o Step One
o Serotonin o Step Two
o Beta Endorphin  


Disc Two
The Steps

o Step Three o Step Six, Early
o Step Four o Step Six, The Flat
o Step Five o Step Seven


Disc Three
What Else is Embedded in the Steps

o Step One o Step Five
o Step Two o Step Six
o Step Three o Step Seven
o Step Four  


Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better.

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** Radiant Kitchen **


Portuguese Potatoes from Selena’s Kitchen


(serves 4 with leftovers):

  • Glug of oil
  • 8ish large potatoes, diced
  • 6 garlic cloves with their skins on (there's nothing more delicious than squeezing the warm garlic puree out with your fork when it's cooked)
  • 2 bell peppers, chopped
  • 4 chicken breasts, chopped into chunks
  • 5" piece of chorizo, chopped (it goes all crispy!)
  • 2 good tablespoons paprika
  • salt and pepper
And I also added some leftover cooked carrots and mushrooms although I don't think that's the traditional recipe LOL!

Throw it in a big pan.

Shake to cover in oil and seasonings.

Cook.

For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store and visit our online Radiant Recipes site.


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** Radiant YLD/Conversations **


We have a new portal for the Conversations program. Come check it out here.

If you would like to join us, you can do that below.

Join YLD Weight Loss Now: click here - $99

Join Conversations 2011 Now: click here - $99

Join Both YLD and Conversations Now: click here - $149

Current YLD members wish to Upgrade to Both, click here - $49

Current YLD members who wish to Transfer to Conversations 2011 Only can do so for a $14.99 admin fee: click here

If you are not a member, come and join us if you want to be a part of the latest and greatest or just have some plain ol' fun!

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** Our Online Groups **


The Radiant Movement list is for people who want to start moving again and to baby step into a regular exercise program. If you can remember how much fun it was to move when you were a child and you've lost that, the Movement list is the perfect place for you. And, if you don't remember, we'll help you rediscover it. There are some wonderful people on the list who will share their stories and help you explore different options to form a movement plan that works for you.. We are enthusiastic about our own exercise, but we also understand first hand how hard it was to start and to baby step into regular movement. It's a great list; come join us.

Or come to the group page to find the one that will best support your program: http://www.radiantrecovery.com/list_serves.htm


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**Reflecting on the Heart of It **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



I asked Kayla if I might share this quote with you. It so captures the essence of what we are about, that I wanted to use it to walk you through some of the key stuff about the program. I am going to reflect right with your words.

OK. I felt so good when I was really doing the program, so the idea that I would give it up does cause me shame. I start going into the whole psychological inquiry: Am I self sabotaging, do I not want to face life? So you are saying that I should not go that route?

I know the idea to not do a lot of psychological exploration is foreign to many of you. Gee, it was huge for me. I had studied the psychology of self development for 15 years, had a master’s degree in it when I came to the program. I was sure that addiction was about self destruction and shame. I started my own program to lose weight. I developed the steps to help support the guys to not drink. I had NO idea what was coming. Then I listened to you guys as you talked and talked. And something profound happened. I learned that it is NOT a psychological issue, it is a biochemical one. Listen to one of the best descriptions I have ever heard:

Well, I will trust you on that, because I know that in other things it has been true. For example, when I am eating well, I really like my job: I see the problems (a lot of bureaucracy and directives), but I also see the many good and exciting things I do and can do more of (really helping people heal and adjust to their life changes, encouraging other employees, research). When I am eating poorly, I spend my free time looking up early retirement plans and fantasizing about winning the lottery.

Exactly. Same life, different biochemistry. How can I help you connect to the power of this? You do not have to get a new job, win the lottery or throw the bastard out. First you get steady, and then these life choices are seen through a very different filter. You may decide that you need a new job, but it will not be reactive and frantic. You will do it in a planful and reflective way. Or you may say, hmm, I have 3 more years, I can manage. You may think I need not to be in this unhealthy relationship. Let’s think about this. Or you may say, hmm, the dude makes $100,000 a year and leaves me alone, maybe I will just do my life here. Rather than thinking about the lottery, you will think about paying your bills on time, starting a savings account, and just doing life.

Mostly though, you will really, really get it that if you do the food, do the program, EVERYTHING changes. Everything.

I am trying to understand what you are saying. I can see from my journal that my road to full blown relapse was when first my journal became sketchy (2), then I let in white things(5), then I stopped journal altogether (2) then the potato & vitamins missed a few days(4), then I went for sugar (6) and then everything was gone.

Yes, this is relapse in a nutshell. The really, really kewl thing is that we know how to get back. And it is as simple as the other direction. Eat breakfast on time. Journal. Pay attention to meals. Potato and vitamins. Brown things and no sugar. Not complex. But mighty, mighty.


Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together:

Gretel, our webmaster, puts it all together.
David runs the Radiant Recovery® Store.
Selena provides the weekly Ambassadors column.



©2011 Kathleen DesMaisons. All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered, use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®", and notify kathleen@radiantrecovery.com of the location. Please visit the Radiant Recovery® website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction.

You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant Recovery® in response to your signup. A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/